Problems of Forensic Sciences 2000 Vol. 44 (XLIV) 43-54
DETERMINATION OF BENZODIAZEPINES IN THE BLOOD OF CAR DRIVERS
Teresa CHACIA, Wojciech PIEKOSZEWSKI, Zofia CHŁOBOWSKA, Czesława ŚWIEGODA
Institute of Forensic Research, Cracow
Streszczenie
The problem of a decrease in the psycho-physical efficiency of drivers due to their taking medicines from the benzodiazepine group as well as dangers related to the use of these medicines by drivers have been raised by a number of authors. Within the presented work determination of benzodiazepines in the blood of 1000 drivers by the gas chromatography method with an electron capture detector (GC/ECD) was carried out. The presence of medicines from the benzodiazepine group was detected in 151 blood samples. Among the benzodiazepines detected in the blood of drivers, no medicines belonged to a group classified as strongly impairing psycho-physical efficiency, but four of the seven benzodiazepines detected were on a list of compounds that may influence drivers by decreasing their car driving efficiency. These were diazepam, oxazepam, estazolam and clonazepam. Diazepam was present in the blood of 59% of drivers that were under the influence of these 4 medicines. Although only 3.3% of the results exceeded the therapeutic concentration – all of these concerned diazepam and its metabolites – in particular cases concentrations were very high.
Słowa kluczowe
Benzodiazepines; Driving under the influence; Gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC/ECD).